Democracy and Apartheid: Political Theory, Comparative Politics and the Modern South African State

Butler, A.

South Africa's 1994 election was widely hailed around the world as miraculous. In this book, Anthony Butler examines South African experiences to cast doubt on this celebratory attitude to democracy. Contemporary political analysis highlights the benefits that democracy can sometimes bring. Butler, by contrast, argues that democracy can be malign. He attacks the myth that democracy ended apartheid, and shows that democratic practices themselves contributed to its evils. The author also explores weaknesses in political science as a discipline. This book will be essential reading for specialists in South Africa, and will appeal to political theorists, students of comparative politics, and historians.

Details

Published by: Palgrave Macmillan

Publication Date: 1998-09-28

Format: Hardcover

ISBN-13: 9780333665930

DOI: 10.1057/9780230374607

Dimensions: 216cm x140cm

Pages: 212